Donald Trump rushed off stage mid-speech at rally in suspected shooting
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Alex Maxam
Featured Image Credit: C-SPAN
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Former president Donald Trump was rushed off stage as gunshots rang out during a rally.
Reuters confirmed that multiple gunshots rang out while Trump addressed a crowd in Pennsylvania. As they rang out, he flinched and started holding his right ear. Moments later, there appeared to be blood on his face as the Secret Service whisked him away.
The United States Secret Service confirmed Donald Trump is now safe via a statement: "An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available."
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The former president's campaign has also spoken out to confirm he is 'fine': "President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act."
"He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."
The White House has confirmed President Joe Biden has received an initial briefing on the situation.
Fox News' Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram spoke to an eyewitness who was in the front row at the rally when the chaos started to unfold. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican congressman for Pennsylvania, said he heard '8-10 shots' from what appeared to be a .22 or small caliber weapon. He also claimed multiple people in the crowd may have been hit and were down.
Butler County District Attorney told WTAE that one person from the crowd is believed to be dead following the shooting. However, they don't have any information on the shooter at the time of writing.
The venue has been abandoned with chairs knocked over and the stage closed off by yellow police tape. Armed law enforcement officers were spotted on a roof near the stage where Trump was standing.
Support for the former president has come from across the spectrum, including Senator Bernie Sanders, who said in a tweet: "Political violence is absolutely unacceptable. I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery."
The incident comes in the middle of a tight reelection campaign, with Trump battling Joe Biden for the White House. There's not much to separate the two men in the polls, though Trump has a slight lead according to most polling models. Voting day is just four months away, on Tuesday November 5.